NFL Prop Shop: Week 4's best player prop bets

Don’t limit your NFL wagering to just sides and totals. Covers Expert Sean Murphy opens the doors to the NFL Prop Shop, giving you his favorite player prop picks for Week 4.

Most passing yards

Joe Flacco (Baltimore Ravens) vs. E.J. Manuel (Buffalo Bills)

I'm not one bit sold on the Bills defense, particularly against the pass. Their starting secondary has spent more time in the trainer's room than on the field this season, and things won't get any easier against Joe Flacco and a Ravens offense that has a lot to prove this week.

We've yet to see Flacco get truly acclimated with his current set of targets. We all knew this Baltimore passing game would be a work-in-progress in the early going this season and that has proven to be the case. With that being said, this looks like an ideal breakout spot. We should hear plenty of Ravens WR Torrey Smith on Sunday afternoon.

Take: Flacco

Geno Smith (New York Jets) vs. Jake Locker (Tennessee Titans)

Geno Smith threw for a career-high 331 yards last week, but that performance came against the Bills. He'll be taking a step up in class against an emerging Titans defense on Sunday and I don't expect him to turn in a similar effort.

The Titans are finally getting some mileage out of Jake Locker this season as he's thrown for just shy of 600 yards, three touchdowns, and more importantly no interceptions through three games. The Jets defense will pose a stiff challenge, but I don't expect Tennessee to hold anything back with Locker as they aim to improve to 3-1.

Last week's game in San Francisco represented nothing more than a dress rehearsal for Trent Richardson in the Colts offense. While he did run for a touchdown, he gained just 35 yards on 13 carries. Expect to see a more explosive performance from Richardson against a weary Jaguars defense on Sunday.

Maurice Jones-Drew has looked like a shell of his former self for the Jags so far this season, but that's had a lot to do with the anemic offense around him. While the Colts are vulnerable on the defensive side of the football, their biggest weakness is against the pass. They'll do everything they can to eliminate Jones-Drew from the equation on Sunday.

Take: Richardson

Most pass receptions

Brandon Marshall (Chicago Bears) vs. Calvin Johnson (Detroit Lions)

The common line of thinking is that Megatron will find the going much tougher without his running mate, WR Nate Burleson. I feel that the Lions will do even more to force the ball to Johnson in Burleson's absence, resulting in increased targets and in turn catches on Sunday against Chicago.

Bears QB Jay Cutler has been spreading the ball around nicely this season, with Brandon Marshall grabbing no more than eight catches in any of the first three games. It's not difficult to figure out who the Lions defense will key on in this matchup, with Marshall getting plenty of attention. I'm expecting a heavy dose of RB Matt Forte from Chicago, limiting Marshall's potential for a monster game.

Take: Johnson

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With playoff implications on the line, expect tight, low-scoring game between these two teams with hot goaltenders...

My free play is on Florida/Boston Under at 7:00 ET.

Boston has rebounded from a six-game losing streak by winning two games in a row after its 2-1 win in Carolina on Sunday. The Bruins return home where the Bruins are holding their opponents to only 2.3 goals per game which is a bit better than their 2.6 goals per game that they are giving up overall this season. Much of this improved play keeping the puck out of the net needs to be credited to goaltender Tuukka Rask who has been outstanding in front of his home fans this season. Rask owns a strong 2.04 goals against average along with a sizzling .930 save percentage when at home. The Bruins are clinging to the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt three points ahead of Ottawa and four points ahead of this Panthers team so the stakes remain very high for this veteran team. Rask may very well be playing his better goaltending at this point of the season as well. In his previous 12 starts this month, Rask has a 2.15 goals against average along with a .932 save percentage.

Florida has won four of its last six games as the Panthers make a late push to make the playoffs with their 4-2 win in Ottawa on Sunday. The Panthers stay on the road for this contest where they have seen the under go 7-3-3 in their last 13 contests away from home. The under is also 9-2-1 in their last 12 trips to Boston to face their Atlantic Division rivals. Florida's improved play as of late has much to do with the team’s improved play on defense as Florida is allowing only 2.2 goals per game over the last five games which is a significant improvement over its 2.7 goals per game seasonal average. Goaltender Roberto Luongo shook off a slow start this season to be the goalie the Panthers were hoping he would be when acquiring him in the offseason. Luongo has a 2.33 goals against average along with a .921 save percentage this year. Luongo has also heated up for Florida's playoff chase late this season as he owns a red hot 1.79 goals against average along with a .932 save percentage in his six starts this month. With playoff implications on the line, expect tight, low-scoring game between these two teams with hot goaltenders. Take the under.

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